Coronavirus and Schools

The coronavirus pandemic has upended America's K-12 education system, as most schools in every state close their doors for extended periods to combat the spread of the virus. Here, find the most relevant news, information, and resources on how schools are being impacted.

The swift, deep collapse of revenue brought on by the coronavirus pandemic could devastate school district budgets. Here's what veteran school leaders and finance experts say can be done to prepare for a prolonged downturn and limit the damage.

The Government Accountability Office estimates that 41 percent of school districts need HVAC upgrades or repair in at least half their schools, which are preparing to reopen after months of COVID-19 shutdowns.

"Without significant federal support, our states will struggle to support their public schools, and our students will feel the brunt of the result," the lawmakers said their pitch for additional K-12 aid.

Masked staff, closed cafeterias, and reconfigured classrooms are among the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as schools weigh how to reopen and keep staff and students safe from the coronavirus.

Masked staff, closed cafeterias, and reconfigured classrooms are among the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as schools weigh how to reopen and keep staff and students safe from the coronavirus.

New federal recommendations on reopening schools closed due to the coronavirus call for dramatic changes that could affect everything from bus rides to where students eat lunch. Watch this video for an explanation.

"All the psychic and economic pain we're seeing right now will be compounded if the pandemic produces a drop in college enrollment and completion. We'll simply lock in our losses for years to come," says Stefanie Sanford.

Innovations that schools developed during their rapid transition to online instruction could inspire them to "rethink education," U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said at a web conference with reporters.

During a press conference, Sen. Lamar Alexander also said he thinks no additional federal guidance is needed to help schools determine how much coronavirus testing is necessary to reopen safely this fall.

A new analysis says the nation's schools will need to spend $41 billion more in the 2020-21 academic year as the fast-moving recession driven by the coronavirus pandemic boosts costs for everything from remote learning to school meals.

The National Education Association and the National PTA have announced a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign to support a new federal coronavirus relief package that includes designated funding for schools.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos tells EdWeek opinion blogger Rick Hess her new competitive grants are "not even a little bit" like the Obama administration's Race to the Top program. Let's examine that claim.

As the president remains impatient to get schools open again, the nation's top epidemiologist continues to sound the alarm about making sure all reopenings are done without risking a reignition of the pandemic.

At a virtual conference focused on Michigan schools and the coronavirus pandemic, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez blasted what he called the "abject failure" of the Trump administration on COVID-19 testing.

The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, which has little chance of passing as written, would also also provide dedicated funding to help students connect to the internet.

"If [Washington] does not approve substantial additional funding, state and local revenue losses will result in teacher layoffs and cuts to other supports and services that will take a generation to recover from," says Mike Casserly.

Eight educators discuss two topics related to distance learning. In one, four reflect on lessons learned over the last few weeks, and, in the other, four discuss how to still encourage students to read during this crisis.

"A one-hour flight to Washington doesn't make you any smarter, and I don't think we need to come up with a bunch of big ideas up here and send them back to states to implement--especially in education," says Alexander.

Democrats have long called for federal school infrastructure spending. During the pandemic, dozens of education groups tell Congress this aid should help schools become health care, job-training, and digital hubs.

The president said he'd "like to see schools open" where possible, although most states have closed them for the academic year, and said children seem to be doing relatively well during the coronavirus pandemic.

Teacher clarity and teacher credibility are two important effects on learning, but they're harder to do during a pandemic, especially if they haven't been done while the students are actually sitting in front of us.

"We don't know what the implications of this pandemic will be in the long-run, but ... I think this is something that will ultimately bring us together and make our coalitions stronger," says Marc Sternberg.

The first question teachers often get is, "Is this for a grade?" Educator and author Roxanna Elden always found that question irritating. As a parent in the age of COVID-19, she's been asking it every week.

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly in pre- and post-trial correctional facilities across the United States, and the challenges of social distancing for students in regular districts are all massively compounded for students behind bars.

The American Enterprise Institute recommends steps to reopen schools in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, including preparing for effects into the 2021-2022 school year and planning to shut down again if the coronavirus re-emerges in their area.

Scott Marion, who consults states on testing, talks about why it's important for vendors and public officials to work cooperatively in renegotiating contracts amid assessment cancellations caused by COVID-19.

The Council of Chief State School Officers has taken a broad inventory of what states will have to deal with when they reopen buildings shuttered due to the pandemic, from student health and safety to academics.

While most parents of K-12 students seem pleased with the communication and educational activities schools are providing during the COVID-19 shutdowns, some are still concerned about how prepared their children will be for the next school year, a University of Southern California survey finds.

"The role of ed tech is to service teachers, students, and parents, and while there is opportunity right now, we shouldn't be opportunistic. Priority one needs to be finding ways to help," says Dan Ayoub.

Funders have been both fast and thoughtful about how to work with national and local partners to listen to needs from the field, identify best practices, and deploy resources quickly, says Celine Coggins.

Faced with uncertainty, new financial concerns, and the prospect of more remote learning, and confusion, a growing number of college-bound high school seniors are reconsidering where and whether they’ll pursue higher education.

It's a stunning reality: More than 85 percent of America's public school students won't be returning to their classrooms at all this academic year, a number that will surely reach close to 100 percent soon as the fight against coronavirus wears on.

Two educators describe how schools can directly respond to the needs of African American students during the COVID-19 crisis, including by regularly contacting their homes and developing a student-centered curriculum.

Superintendent Joseph Meloche, of the Cherry Hill Public Schools in New Jersey, convenes regular conversations with high school seniors to help him figure out how to handle the end-of-year rituals that have been upended by the coronavirus pandemic.

The coronavirus-driven disruption of the nation’s schools demands both practical and symbolic responses from an education secretary who has endured intense scrutiny and controversy from her first days in office.

Most teachers and district leaders in the EdWeek Research Center survey expressed concern about students receiving mental health services during the shutdown. The more low-income students a school serves, the more concerned educators were.

Coronavirus' financial wallop on schools will come sooner than predicted as unemployment hits record levels. Already, pay cuts, furloughs, and layoffs may be in the offing in some districts before the start of the new school year.

To make up for lost opportunities for college admissions testing during the coronavirus crisis, the board plans to offer the test more often in the fall, including some test administrations during the school day.

Nathel Burtley, 79, was a lifelong educator who led the Flint, Mich., school system, paving the way for other African-American educators to become the heads of districts. He died earlier this month from the coronavirus.

The Philly School District's story of how it acquired 40,000 new devices underscores a new reality: districts across the country are competing for every device available during the coronavirus-induced remote learning movement.

The nation's second largest district won't reopen for the remainder of the school year, joining New York City public schools in keeping buildings closed. It also plans to continue distance learning for its summer school options.

Larry Ferlazzo shares four ways to help students feel intrinsically motivated to participate in virtual learning, including by teachers' developing positive relationships with students and by creating opportunities for small-group independent work.

Four educators share strategies for responding to absenteeism—whether from remote learning or from the physical school. They include a reduced emphasis on negative consequences and a renewed focus on relationship-building.

Asked whether he would order Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to keep schools closed amid the coronavirus pandemic, Trump said he wanted to respect constitutional considerations but added he had the "right" to overrule governors.

States, school districts and teachers next year are likely to be on the hook for higher pension rates as the investment markets tank because of the coronavirus. That will leave districts with less money to spend on other K-12 priorities, including teacher pay.

Videoconference platforms are useful for educators trying to maintain instruction and manage district priorities during extended shutdowns. This guide will help schools navigate concerns around technology, privacy, and security.

Schools may have to continue closures in the fall if the coronavirus resurges, state schools chiefs in Maryland and Washington said. The warnings came the same week that a key federal official predicted schools would be able to reopen for the 2020-21 school year.

More than 30 states have already moved to create more flexible graduation requirements and more are poised to do so, as education leaders move swiftly to smooth the transition to school or work for this year’s senior class.

Social distancing is forcing school business to be conducted virtually, putting school boards in the difficult spot of making crucial decisions on spending and other issues without the same level of public input.

The two national teachers' unions and other prominent groups are seeking $175 billion for state K-12 budgets, $13 billion in dedicated aid for special education, and more to help schools deal with the coronavirus.

While schools are closed to coronavirus, districts are putting together a patchwork of lessons for students to do at home. But districts’ expectations for what students can accomplish at home vary widely, according to parents.

Within three weeks, a pandemic has completely changed the national landscape on testing. The U.S. Department of Education has now excused all 50 states and the District of Columbia from the requirement that they test all their students in math and English/language arts.

Rick Hess recently reached out to Jal Mehta to get his take on how parents and teachers can cultivate deeper learning while scrambling to deal with worksheets, video connections, and the trevails of sheltering in place.

Rick Hess recently asked Terry Grier, who spent decades as a highly regarded superintendent in Houston, San Diego, and elsewhere, about what he's seeing and can share about the response to the coronavirus.

Four teachers share their reflections and practical advice on dealing with the school closure emergency, including trying to avoid multitasking and suggesting our students need more love than they need curriculum.

President Donald Trump signed a roughly $2 trillion coronavirus aid package that includes billions to help school budgets, but falls short of what many in the education community say students and educators will need.

As schools across the country closed, Khan Academy, with the support of Bank of America, pushed to create daily learning schedules for students age 4-18 and expand access to its online resources for millions.

Advocacy and education groups urge a pause in efforts to rewrite regulations on responding to sexual harassment and sexual assault in K-12 schools, colleges, and universities as the nation confronts the coronavirus pandemic.

Two educators who had to switch quickly to remote learning share their recommendations, including keeping in mind that parents are feeling overwhelmed and that we are teaching students, not the curriculum.

Education Week has identified at least 15 school districts, serving more than 250,000 students combined, that have either suspended or altered their meal distribution programs due to coronavirus-related concerns.

Three educators of multilingual students share their strategies to manage the transition to online learning, including using translation apps to communicate with parents and maintaining a sense of community with their classes.

Asked about states' decisions to close schools in response to the coronavirus, President Donald Trump said Monday that in some states, "schools are going to be open." He spoke after a second state, Virginia, extended its closures for the rest of the academic year.

Worried that coronavirus testing disruptions will harm their college applications, a coalition of student groups is calling on colleges and universities to accept applications without SAT or ACT scores when application season starts up again next fall.

As millions of students nationwide start to settle into virtual learning programs to slow the spread of the coronavirus, a massive new research analysis sounds another note of caution about the effects of exposing significantly more screen time.

"We're holding out hope we can bring a sense of completion and finality to kids and families and end this unprecedented year on a positive note," American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten said.

The past few weeks have been some of the most difficult most of us have experienced in a very long time. The coronavirus has highlighted some critical issues in education, and we are all trying to find solutions.

Thanks to the coronavirus epidemic, America is facing a school shutdown of historic proportions, deepening learning divides among students and taking away the centers of communities. Can we ever make up the lost learning time?

The federal government has granted waivers and passed legislation to make it easier for schools to serve meals to students during coronavirus-related school closures, but the nation's food service directors are still worried that children will go hungry, a new national survey finds.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act would give the education secretary the power to grant "national emergency educational waivers" from the Every Student Succeeds Act and other laws.

With the coronavirus pandemic pressing tens of thousands of the nation's school districts into extended closures, education administrators across the nation are wrestling with a complex and legalistic problem: how to keep services flowing for students with disabilities.

Chief technology officers are facing an unprecedented test of digital preparedness due to the coronavirus pandemic, struggling with shortfalls of available learning devices and huge Wi-Fi access challenges.

Last week I penned a caustic column decrying the number of pitches I've received from education providers since COVID-19 began to shutter schools, writes Rick Hess. Here's some advice on how they could do better.

As coronavirus-related school closures stretch on, state school chiefs have pressed for expedited waivers from federal testing requirements and further guidance on equity for students with disabilities.

Emergency coronavirus legislation that eases rules for meals schools provide to students, and provides certain leave benefits related to schools has been sent by Congress to President Trump for signature.

How can parents make sure their kids are still learning, carve out time for their own work, discover their inner teacher, and stay sane? EdWeek turned to the foremost experts for their pro tips: Home schooling parents.

The coronavirus has upended our lives. Now, I know nothing about epidemiology or public health, writes Rick Hess. But the impact on schooling has been enormous, and that is an area I know something about.

The coronavirus could severely test state laws for how many days schools must be in session and when they must stop and start, and major consequences such as levels of education funding could hang in the balance.

Schools are cancelling, rates of COVID-19 are increasing right now, and it's time for schools to focus on online learning and calming the social-emotional issues of students. So, why do we still have to worry about high-stakes testing?

The House passes legislation to make it easier for more students to access meals amid spread of COVID-19, and up to 12 weeks of job-protected leave for many workers if a child's school has been closed.

Highline Public Schools chief Susan Enfield's district is weighing how to provide print and online resources to students during the coronavirus outbreak, but she's heard enough from companies marketing their products.

Members of Congress have introduced bills designed to ensure that students who rely on federally subsidized meals can still receive them amid school closures related to the outbreak of novel coronavirus.

Sick leave. Paid time off. Sharing unused leave among employees. These are some of the biggest issues for districts to grapple with as they plan for shutting down schools in response to the coronavirus.

E-learning may help some schools keep instruction flowing but major gaps in access and resources mean not all schools are ready to offer virtual classes, and not all students are equipped to learn online.

Coronavirus-related harassment and other mistreatment of students based on racial or ethnic stereotypes is "never justified," Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kenneth L. Marcus told schools in a letter.

Closing American schools earlier and for a longer period of time blunted the impact of the Spanish Flu in 1918, according to researchers. But in 2020, shuttering schools for a prolonged period to prevent spread of COVID-19 would also bring steep costs to communities.

In the face of the coronavirus, schools might need to change how they operate but should also resist significantly disrupting the lives of students and educators, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official tells U.S. senators.

A high school student in Washington state and a school employee in the Portland, Ore., area have tested "presumptive positive" for coronavirus, prompting shutdowns of their school buildings for disinfection.

The AASA, the School Superintendents Association, told districts to consider canceling overseas trips, teach proper hand-washing techniques, and be careful not to stigmatize students amid coronavirus concerns.

Researchers and experts say states have authority to shut schools down if needed in case of a health emergency like a pandemic, but in the words of one, it’s “not like turning a light switch on or off.”

The head of the American Federation of Teachers is calling on the Trump Administration to provide educators and other groups of professionals who deal closely with the public more guidance on how to respond to the growing coronavirus threat.

So far, there are a handful of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, but at least two schools have had scares. Some districts are stressing basic, but important prevention strategies, including frequent hand washing.